Incandescent-lamp socket.



v No. 861,343.

PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

J. J. WOOD.

INGANDESGENT LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22. 1906. v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FIG. 2.

14 WITNESSES: W m

13 Aim/way). W 23k r Mg No. 861,343. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

J. J. WOOD. INGANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 22, 1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR ITNESSES: 3W %.\ferod.

- WM I I By :1 ital 1241's,

JAMES J. WOOD, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

INCANDESCENT-LAMP SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed August 22,1906- Serial No. 331,652.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Janus .T. Woon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incandescent-Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides alockable lamp socket of the type which is constructed with a freely pivoted cup or screw socket into which the lamp is screwed so that on the attempt of an unauthorized person to unscrew the lamp the cup turns freely with the lamp and defeats the effort to remove the lamp. .To permit its removal by an authorized person a lock is provided by which such person on inserting a key may fasten the cup and hold it against rotation while he unsc'rews the lamp and screws in another one.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical mid-section of a socket embodying this invention, in the plane of the switch, key and lock; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the inner parts removed viewed from the left in Fig. -1; Fig. 3 is an underside view, the cup and other parts beneath the porcelain base being removed, and the fastening screws being in section on the line 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an underside view of the fixed 9. Fig-11shows a lo ck barrel in plan, endview, and

vertical section. Fig. 12 shows the flat form of the spring 23,'and Fig. 13 shows it in elevation and plan after being bent to shape. Fig. 14 is airagmentary section of the swivel joint of the cup, in the plane of the line 14, in Fig. 4. Fig. 15 is a transverse section,

. viewed in the direction of Fig. 2. Fig. 16 is a partial porcelainbaseof the cornmercial Edison lamp socket, and B, the outer'shell' thereqf, withits insulating lining C and upper cap all of the usual construction. l

E is the screw socket or threaded cup into which screws the base of the lamp T is c'up, instead ofbefixed support is provided to which it is swiveled, this ing fastened toth base by the usual two sc rews a a, is pivoted or swiveled so as to freely turn. To this end a being in the form of a tame If having an annular portion. This frame, which will bedesignated, the annu- I 1 "lus, has two ears, 1, 2, bent up from it and turned inward, having threaded holes -3, 3, for receiving the screws a 'a', by which it is firmly fastened beneath the porcelain base. The cup E is swiveled in the large central opening 4 of the annulus F by being formed with a'neck 5, which is thrust up through the opening, and flanged outwardly at 6; to make a more perfect sliding joint, a ring 7 (Fig. 6). is placed over the annulus F before turning the flange 6. The cup has a flat shoulder 8 which makes a firm seat against the under side of the annulus, and serves also for the end of the lamp base to bottom against when it is screwed home. Thus, the screwing home of the lamp has no tendency to tear the cup loose from its pivotal connection.

The screw-socket or cup E has four (more or less) recesses 9, 9,.iormed in it for engaging the lock. They are located preferably at its upper part where it is turned in to form the shoulder 8. They may be mere indentations, but preferably are notched or openings punched through the sheet metal, as shown.

The lock is formed in a tubular shell 10, which projects from the main shell B. The only alteration mad the latter is to form a hole through it, and (prefers to turn themargin of this hole outward to 'form-a neck into which the reduced end of the shell 10 enters and is soldered fast. The insulating lining O has also a hole through it, registering with that in the shell B. The shelllO is formed as a cup, with its outer end 11 closed and through this end is formed the keyhole 12. (Fig. 7.) Within the shell 10, fits freely a cylinder or barrel G, within which is carried a central pin or key-post 13, around which is hollowed out a recess 14 (Fig. 11), into which may enter the tubular shank of the keyH, the wing 15 of which is received in'a slot 16 in the cylinder. The cylinder is formed also with a spiral groove 17,

which is'engaged by a fixed pin 18, screwed or otherwise fastened to shell 10. Thus, by inserting the key through the keyholeuntil its wing has passed beyond the end 11. of the shell, so that it can be turned, and turning itin the proper direction, it turns with it, the barrel G;,and as the latter turns, it is propelled forward by the engagement of its groove 17 with the pin 18 (Fig. 8). This groove extends for less than an entire circle. (120f pl11s t e diameter of the pin 18 is a convenient length), so t at the key cannot be withdrawn providedyvith a friction spring 19 housed in a recess 20, and pressing, outwardly against the shell 10. I The inner end of the barrel carries a head 21 of insulating material, conveniently held on by screwing it on until it has turned back the barrel to its starting point.

To prevent accidental movement of the barrel, it is.-

the threaded front end of the pin13 (Fig. 11). The reduced end of-this head 21 is arranged opposite, and may be in contact with, a springtongue or branch 22 on along spring or spring arm 23 -'(Fig. 12) which carries at its free end a downwardly. projecting locking lug 24. The spring 23 is stampedout as a flat blank (Fig. 12)

and bent to an' approximate circle, its end 25, which is perforated, being riveted to the vertical part of the'ear 2 of the annulus F, with the spring ,curled around over the annulus, and its lug 24 projecting down through a guiding slot 26 in the annulus. he lug 24 is normally pressed outward by. the spring (see Fig. 4) and stands just outside the upper part'of the socket-cup E, where it oiiers no obstacle to the free rotation of the cup. When, however, the key is turned to propel forward the loclecylinder 13, so that its head presses inward the arm 22 of the spring 23, the lug 24 of the latter is pressed toward the inner side of the slot 26 and bears against the exterior of the cup- E, so that when this cup is turned, the lug snaps into the first of the notches 9 that presents itself, (Fig. 14) and thus serves to lock the cup fast and permit the unscrewing of the lamp. The portion of the spring 23 between and including the arm 22 and lug 24 affords abundant elasticity to permit the full protrusion-of the barrel G, and thereby impart a stress suflicicnt to cause the lug 24 to spring into the notch.

i The lamp socket, if koyless or unprovided with a switch has the annulus F constructed as shown in Figs. 9 and i0. It is formed with an car 260 and binding screw 27 by which to permanently attach one of the terminal wires. Thecar 260 may be conveniently turned up from the end of an arc-shaped prolongation 28 of the ear 1. The other terminal wire is fastenedby a binding-screw 29 to a yielding or spring-contact or terminal J which is of nearly the same construction as in the standard socket, being attached by the usual screw 1) (Fig. [5). This spring terminal .l is a leaf spring bent to Z form, with its lower arm inclined downwardly and tcrmiimling ata lower point than in the standard socket. [to compensate for the lower position of the screw-cup, due to the intervention of the annulus F). Its inclined lower arm'cxtends down partly or wholly through the opening within the neck 5 of the cup, and terminates in the usual central contact 0. The usual mica disk d is placed within the curve of the spring 23, .which holds it in place, and is notched out at one side to admit the spring J, so that the contact 0 may be beneath the disk. 7 For a keysocket or switch-socket, the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 15 and 16, is used. K is the ordinary key, with its spindle a, hung in theusual bracket f which is fastened in the-hollow of the porce lain base by the screw f, and has the usualbindingscrew 1' (Fig. 3) and the-usual spring g. Thebracketf has, as usual, two cars, one=havi g a hole in which the spindle turns, and the other (see Fig. 2) having an upright slot in which the end of the spindle may work up or down, being pressed down by the stress of the spring g on the contact-piece h, whereby, when turned upright (Fig. 16) to close the circuit to the lamp, it is pressed down to make electric connection with the screw part of thev socket. Instead, however, of touching this directly, as in the standard socket, it bears upon a portion of the annulus F namely, upon an arc-shaped projection 30, which is conveniently formed as a continuation ol the ear l. (See Fig. 4). This portion 30 is slightly yielding, so that when the switch is closed (Fig. id) it makes a good contact with. the piece h. In other respects the switch is, or may be, of ,the standard construction.

The lam p-socket thus constructed has certain important practical advantages. It is strongly, lightly tion of the ordinary standard socket, and utilizes most of the parts thereof without change; it involves no change in the exterior shell except cutting therein the hole for receiving thelateral shell 10; consequently, the standard shade holder may be used without change; the screw-socket or cup is not liable to be strained or distorted if the lamp be too forcibly screwed in; no distortion orwear of the parts can affect the conductive contact with the switch in the closed position; and the lock that the invention is not limited to this application,

but is applicable to any socket with which the lamp is connected by screwing it into place, or indeed by any other means requiring a rotative movement. The invention therefore, is applicable to any incandescent lamp-socket of that type which has a freely rotatable lamp-receiving cup or socket portion,and has means for locking this fast by the use of a suitable key so as to ex iable an authorized person to remove and replace the lamp.

What I claim is:- v

1. A lampsocket of the described type, comprising a permanently connected rotative screw socket combined with a yielding central contact.

2. A lamp-socket of the described type, comprising a support, a rotative screw-socket, said socket hung to said support by an open swivel, and a yielding central contact adapted to engage the lamp within such swivel.

3. A lamp-socket of the described type, comprising a support, and .a rotative screw-socket swiveled to said sup port, and formed as a threaded cup with an integral fihnge turned inwardly adjacent to its threaded portion, in position to serve as a stop against which the lamp may bottom.

4. A lamp-socket of the described type, comprising a support, and a rotative screw-socket swiveled to said support, and formed as a threaded cup with an integral flange turned inwardly adjacent to its threaded portion, in position to serve as a stop against which the lamp may bottom, and said flange extended axially to form the neck of its swivel.

A lamp-socket of the described type, having a conducting support to which its rotative screw-s0cket is swiveled, and said support forming part of the circuit with a central conducting contact insulated therefrom, whereby the current is conducted to the lamp through said support.

(LA lamp-socket of the described type, having a metal and cheaply made; it involves the minimum of alterasupport and a rotativc screw-socket swivcled to said support by direct metallic contact.

7. A lamp-socket of they described type, havin'g an annular metal support connected to one of the circuit terminals,

10. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a porcelain body having an annular frame fastened beneath the porcelain body. said frame comprising a ring and upturned ears engaged by the laslcning screws, and the screw-socket swivolvd to said frame.

11. A lampsocket of the described type comprising a rotative screw socket and a locking device, said socket formed with recesses adapted for engagementby said locking device. I

12. A la.1npsocket of the described type comprising a retative screw-socket formed with recesses, and .a spring latch adapted to engage such recesses.

13. A lamp-socket of the described type havinga rotative screw-socket, alocking latch adapted to lock said socket, a spring pressing said latch to the unlocked positionfand locking means adapted to press it to the locked 14. A lamp-socket of the described-type having a rotative screw-sockct'a springlatch adapted to engage and lock such screw-socket, its spring normally pressing it to the unlocked position, and key operated locking means adapted to overcome such stress and exert a stress tending to force the latch to the locked position.

15. A lamp-socket of the described type having a rotative screw-socket formed with recesses, a locking lug adapted to enter such recesses by an inward movement, a spring normally pressing said lug outwardly to the unlocked position, and key-operated locking means adapted to press said lug inwardly to engage a recess.

16. A 'lampsocket of the described type comprising an annular support, a socket cupdirectly swiveled thereto and having recesses, and a locking member mounted on said annular support and movable to enter said recesses.

17. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a swiveled socket cup having recesses, a locking lug adapted to enter said recesses by an inward movement, a spring arm carrying said lug, tending normally to press it oi1t' at one end to said fixed support and having at its other,

cnd a locking lug adapted toenter said recesses.

19. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a rotativc socket cup, a spring latch formed as a spring arm -with a locking lug at its free end, and with a branch or league, and locking means bearing against said tongue to yioldiugly apply the latch.

:10. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a rotative socket cup, a spring-mounted locking'lug and a fixed frame having a guidingslot in which said lug may more.

21. A lamp-socket of the described type having a porcelain body, an annular frame F with upturned ears 1 and 2 by which it is fastened beneath the porcelain body, and having a guiding slot 26, .a rotative screw-socket E swiveled to said frame, and having recesses 9, a spring arm 23 fixed at one end to said frame, and having a locking lug :4 projecting through said slot and adapted to enter said recesses, and-a locking means for moving said lug inwardly or outwardly.

22. A lamp-socket of the described type having an annular frame, the screw-socket swiveled thereto' with an shell therefor.

open swivel, and a separate insulating disk mounted on said frame overlying said swivel.

23. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising an annular support, the screw-socket swiveled thereto, a spring mounted on said support and extended in a curve around said swivel, and an insulating plate overlying said swivel and confined within said spring.

'24. A lampsocket of the described type comprising a I rotative'screw-socket formed as a cup with a.flange and neck, and an annular support inclosing the neck, the latter expanded to form a swivel engagement with said support.

25. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a rotative screw-socket formed as a cup with a flange and neck, an annular support inclosing the neck, a ring overlying said support, and the neck expanded over said ring to form a swivel engagement with said support.

26. A lampsockct of the described type comprising a conducting support, a rotative screw-socket swiveled to said support, and the switch arranged when closed to make contact with said support.

27. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a fixed annular frame formed with a contact arm, the screwsocket swiveled to said frame, and the switch adapted to make contact with said arm.

28. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a rotative socket, a'spring' latch, a longitudinally-movable barrel adapted to be engaged by a key, and an inclosing 29. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a rotative socket, a spring latch, a key-operated barrel mov able to engage said latch, and a shell inclosing said barrel,

said .barrel' and shell -having co-acting inclines adapted upon the turning of the barrel to advanceit spirally.

30. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a rotative socket, a spring latch, 21 key-operated barrel engaging it, and ashell for said barrel, said barrel having a spiral groove, and said shell having a pin engaging said groove.

31. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a rotative socket, a spring latch and a key-operated barrel engaging said latch with an interposed insulation.

32. A lamp-socket of the described type comprising a rotative socket, a spring latch and a key-operated barrel engaging said latch, said barrel having a central socket for receiving the key, and a central pin for entering the l xv- 33. A laiapsocket of the described type'comprising a rotative socket, a spring latch and a key-operated barrel engaging said latch, a shell in which said barrel moves, and-a spring engaging the barrel for resisting movement of the barrel.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

minus .I. WOOD.

Witnesses EDWARD A. Bumps, M: G. Wnnnnu. 

